Shining World ComPASSion AWArd

PEACE: THE ENLIGHTENED WAY TO LIVEShining World Hero AwardShining World Hero AwardEverywhere in this world, we can see acts of tenderheartedness and manifestations of God’s divine love.These beautiful encounters and charitable deeds are infusing positive energy into our society and addingmomentum to the elevation of our world. To commend these virtuous actions and to encourage more peopleto follow their examples, Supreme Master Ching Hai has created a series of awards, including the ShiningWorld Leadership Award, to be presented to these exemplary people, wise governments and organizations,as well as our compassionate and brave animal friends. These awards express our praise and appreciationfor the superb ideal that they have set, which will bring a bright future to all beings. The “red heart” ratingsrepresent God’s love, reminding humankind to treat all living beings with compassion and love.Warriors for Freedom of the PressBy Paris News Team, France (Originally in French)Reporters Sans Frontières, RSF, is a French non-profit organizationwith international presence. Under the motto “Don’t wait to bedeprived of news to stand up and fight for it,” RSF has defendedfreedom of information on a daily basis since its inception in 1985.Their mission is many-fold, which includes inform, act, and support.Firstly, their researchers who each manage a region or a topic, writeup and release reports to inform people of their findings on incidents inthe world where the freedom of press is violated. Secondly, they take action on thefindings to defend reporters in the field as well as to correspond and meet with theauthorities or governments in question. And lastly, they offer help, financial and/ormaterial support, to reporters and media in difficulty.Commenting on the importance of their work, RSF’s General Director,Mr. Jean-François Julliard said, “This fight is essential to us, because without thefreedom of the press there will be no democracy. We think that the freedom ofthe press is the most important, that it must be profoundly defended. We do not have a corporatistapproach, we do not have an association of reporters. We defend the freedom of the press in a sense thatit is the people’s essential right. We defend the right of people to have access to free information.”In recognition of RSF’s nearly 30 years of remarkable work and achievement in the field,Supreme Master Ching Hai honored this respectable organization with the Shining World Hero Award,together with a contribution of US$150,000 in support of their noble endeavors. These were presentedto Mr. Julliard by our Association member on June 16, Golden Year 8 (2011) in France. In Her letter,Master wrote, “This Award is presented in recognition of the dedication and bravery of all reportersrisking their lives on duty, and for your organization that supports them by promoting greater freedom28 The Supreme Master Ching Hai News No. 209